Markey touts experience in private sector

Betsy Markey, the Democratic candidate for state treasurer, said voters should elect her because of her extensive, 30-plus years of experience.

She made a stop in Pueblo Friday as part of a statewide campaign swing.

Markey is a former U.S. representative in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District who most recently spent two years working with Homeland Security in Washington, D.C. She will face incumbent state Treasurer Walker Stapleton in the November election.

Markey said her experience in the private sector — she has a background in public administration and finance and has started two businesses — as well as her work in government make her the ideal candidate for the treasurer’s position.

“I love finance and have 35 years experience in it,” Markey said. “This position is a good fit for me so I got into the race last year.”

If elected, Markey said she will bring innovation, transparency and a close working relationship with the state’s 64 county treasurers to the office.

In terms of innovation, Markey said more can be done to work with both the state Legislature and the private sector “to move the state forward,” especially with regard to improvement of infrastructure through private-sector funding.

Markey said it’s essential for the state treasurer’s website to be updated regularly so that taxpayers can see where their dollars are being spent. Another measure to increase transparency is issuance of a State Taxpayer Accountability Report (STAR), which the treasurer’s office hasn’t released since early 2011.

Markey also believes it vital for the treasurer to listen to the concerns and problems of the state’s county treasurers — especially when it comes to transportation issues.

As the state treasurer sits on the board of the Public Employees’ Retirement Association of Colorado (PERA), Markey said that PERA should not be used as a political football. Although the PERA program has experienced solid returns over the past few years, should the program fall into trouble, Markey said the solution is to propose specific changes to PERA and bring them before the state Legislature.